IMPHAL, May 30 - Bharatiya Janata Party�s victory in recent Assam Assembly elections and subsequent installation of BJP-led Government in the biggest NE State is likely to be a driving force in Manipur�s upcoming Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) and State Assembly elections in 2017.
This was reflected in the Vision statement of the BJP Manipur Pradesh for IMC election which is scheduled to be held on June 2 next.
�The IMC elections will be the semifinal for the ensuing Assembly elections which is barely 200 days ahead,� said Thounaojam Chaoba, Convenor of State Election Management Committee of BJP Manipur while releasing Vision statement along with drafting committee members N Mangi and AR Khan here on Monday.
Stating that after their success in Panchayat and Nagar Panchayat elections besides the by-poll (in Thangmeiband and Thongju constituencies), Chaoba, former Union Sports Minister in the then Vajpayee Government, predicted that his party will be in power after 2017 polls. �Our party is committed for devolution of powers to urban local bodies. We are expecting not less than 15 seats in IMC election this time,� he claimed.
BJP is fielding 26 candidates, 20 in Imphal West and six in Imphal East districts for 27 IMC wards for councillors� seats while ruling Congress has also fielded an equal number of candidates. The other parties in the fray include CPI 15, Lok Jana Shakti three and Independent 25. Around 128 candidates are also fighting for 56 ward member seats.
The BJP Vision statement which has 22 priorities for the development of IMC areas, include providing efficient public transport system, making Imphal a model city, development of satellite towns and recreation centres, augmenting safe drinking water supply, greater involvement of local bodies in implementation of Food Security Scheme, proper implementation of building bylaws, etc. Assam Finance Minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma was also in Imphal for the last three days in connection with the IMC election campaign.
On Sunday, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh accompanied by Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president TN Haokip attended a campaign meeting for Congress candidates and criticised the BJP Government at Centre for not implementing projects in the State on time.
